Police Officer - Entry Level

Position Description: Police Officer

Department: Police Department

Position Grade: Police Officer (PO)

Supervisor: Police Sergeant

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Revision date: December 2023

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POSITION SUMMARY

The Police Officer works under the direction of a department sergeant; performs police patrol, investigation, traffic regulation and related law enforcement activities.

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ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• As a sworn Police Officer, performs duties that consist of providing community protection

1.1 Places own life or personal safety at risk.

1.2 Performs duties that actively prevent or detect crime and enforce criminal statutes or ordinances of the state of Utah and the City of South Salt Lake.

1.3 Responds to situations involving threats to public safety and making emergency decisions affecting the lives and health of others.

• Works on rotating shifts patrolling city streets, parks, commercial and residential areas

2.1 Preserves the peace and enforces the law.

2.2 Controls vehicular traffic.

2.3 Prevents or detects and investigates misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies, and other law violations.

2.4 Maintains a visible profile to discourage crime.

2.5 Performs surveillance functions.

2.6 Testifies in court on criminal cases as required.

2.7 Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies.

• Performs other law enforcement related activities

3.1 Prepares a variety of reports and records including officer's Daily Log, reports of investigations, etc.

3.2 Participates in drills and other department training activities including the use of firearms.

3.3 Provides community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education (DARE), traffic safety, etc.

3.4 Provides community information through speeches to citizen groups and answers citizen inquiries.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• Must have SFO and LEO POST Certification or be currently enrolled with an anticipated graduation date.
• Must possess a valid state driver's license or can obtain one prior to employment.

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NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of uniform police procedures and city codes; knowledge of emergency medical procedures and techniques; knowledge of the proper use of firearms.
• Skill in the use of a wide variety of equipment including firearms, radar, and surveillance; skill in word processing, spreadsheets, office machine usage and the operation of micro-computers.
• Ability to work under extremely dangerous physical conditions and periods of mental duress; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• No Police Officer employed by the City of South Salt Lake will establish residence more than forty miles from the center of the city.
• Probationary officers who live outside the forty-mile limit will be required to move within the forty-mile limit within nine (9) months of being hired. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
• Officers employed prior to the effective date of this policy, living outside the forty-mile limit are exempt from the residency portion of this policy. Officers who are currently exempt from residency requirements who then move following the effective date of this policy, may not move any further away from the city than their distance when the policy took effect.
• For the purpose of policy 706 the 40-mile limit will be measured from the following point:

Mill Creek and 300 West (2970 S 300West)

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PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or will be encountered by an employee while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, run, use hands to feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in precarious places and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, extreme cold, and vibration. __________________________________________________________________________________________

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.